Breast scan error ‘cut lives of 270’
A BREAST cancer screening error affecting 450,000 women may have led to hundreds of lives being cut short, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has revealed.
Mr Hunt told the Commons that a “computer algorithm failure” dating back to 2009 had meant many women aged 68 to 71 in England were not invited to their final routine screening.
It is not known whether any delay in diagnosis resulted in avoidable death, but it is estimated that between 135 and 270 women had their lives shortened as a result, he said.
An independent review has been launched into the “serious failure” in the programme, run by Public Health England (PHE).
Mr Hunt said “administrative incompetence” meant some families may have lost, or be about to lose, a loved one to cancer.
Women in England between the ages of 50 and 70 are currently automatically invited for breast cancer screening every three years.
The issue was first brought to the attention of the Department of Health and Social Care in January, but was initially thought to pose a “limited” risk to patients. It was escalated to ministers in March by PHE following an urgent clinical review, with the Government told the error should not be made public to ensure existing screening services were not overwhelmed.
Mr Hunt told the Commons: “Earlier this year PHE analysis of trial data from the service found that there was a computer algorithm failure dating back to 2009.
“The latest estimates I have received from PHE is that, as a result of this, between 2009 and the start of 2018 an estimated 450,000 women aged between 68 and 71 were not invited to their final breast screening. At this stage it is not clear whether any delay in diagnosis resulted in any avoidable harm or death and that is one of the reasons I am ordering an independent review to establish the clinical impact.”
It is currently estimated that between 135 and 270 women may have had “their lives shortened as a result”.
He added: “I am advised that it is unlikely to be more than this range and may be considerably less.
“However, tragically there are likely to be some people in this group who would have been alive today if the failure had not happened.”
Of those who missed invitations, 309,000 are estimated to still be alive and all those living in the UK who are registered with a GP will be contacted before the end of May.
All women who were not sent an invitation for their final screening will be given the opportunity to have a new appointment.
Those under the age of 72 will receive an appointment letter informing them of the time and date, while those over 72 will also be offered a screening and have access to a helpline to decide if it will be beneficial.
The helpline for those who think they may be affected is 0800 169 2692.